Finding a top level distance coach is difficult for any program, but that is exactly what The University of Memphis got with the hiring of Mike Power during the summer of 2006.

Power works primarily with the Tiger and Lady Tiger distance runners and oversees the cross-country teams. While Memphis is Power's first stop as a college coach, he is certainly not unfamiliar with the level of competition.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Power began running at a young age. In 1995, he became the youngest Australian to run a sub four-minute mile, turning in a time of 3:58 at 18 years old.

Power ran collegiately for the University of Arkansas from 1996-99, where he trained under longtime coach John McDonnell. During his time with the Razorbacks, Power was a nine-time All-American and five-time Southeastern Conference Champion.

Power won back-to-back SEC cross-country titles in 1998 and 1999 en route to a second place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 1999. At the 1998 SEC Outdoor Championships, he captured the 5000-meter crown, and at the SEC Indoors in 1999 he took two titles, winning the mile and the three-kilometer events.

In 2000, Power returned home for Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He went on to qualify for the Games and represented Australia in the 5000 meters.

After coaching and competing professionally for two years, Power returned to Arkansas in 2004 and received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology.

After a year off in 2005, Power was eager to return to collegiate track and field to begin working with the Tiger distance groups.

In his first season with Memphis, Power immediately upgraded the team's distance program, adding newcomer Tina Sherratt, who set five new Lady Tiger records, and helping sophomore Emily Malinowski to four Memphis records and an NCAA Regional appearance.